Spanning 221.1 miles across Missouri, this trek from Louisiana to Saint Joseph takes approximately 3 hours and 44 minutes. Because the distance is manageable within a single day, you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay unless you prefer a slower pace. Plan to set aside about $34 for fuel to cover the trip in its entirety. You will navigate via North 7th Street, Frank Ford Road, and the Avenue of the Saints. Since both your origin and destination are located firmly within the Midwest, you can expect a consistent regional feel as you transition across the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
112.5 miles from Louisiana, MO
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
156.3 mi
3h 1m
US 36
26.5 mi
31m
Avenue of the Saints
14.7 mi
17m
Frank Ford Road
10.2 mi
14m
MO B
6.2 mi
11m
V.F.W. Memorial Highway
5.8 mi
6m
Veterans Road
2.2 mi
3m
South 10th Street
1.2 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
— 156.3 mi, about 3h 1m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Louisiana, MO and Saint Joseph, MO.
1
Start on Tennessee Street
35 ft·3 sec·Tennessee Street
2
Turn right onto North 7th Street
0.5 mi·1 min·North 7th Street
3
Continue on MO 79
10 mi·14 min·Frank Ford Road
4
Turn left onto MO B
5.8 mi·10 min·MO B
5
At end of road, turn right onto MO B
0.3 mi·36 sec·MO B
6
Turn left onto MO B; MO C; MO ZZ
439 ft·10 sec·MO B; MO C; MO ZZ
7
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·45 sec
8
Merge onto US 61
15 mi·17 min·Avenue of the Saints
9
Take the exit
249 ft·14 sec
10
Turn left onto Paris Gravel Road
0.5 mi·1 min·Paris Gravel Road
11
Keep slight right at fork onto County Road 422
279 ft·8 sec·County Road 422
12
Turn right onto Veterans Road
2.2 mi·3 min·Veterans Road
13
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·16 sec
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
14
Merge onto US 36; MO 110
5.8 mi·6 min·V.F.W. Memorial Highway
15
Continue on US 24; US 36; MO 110
156 mi·3 hr 1 min·Chicago-Kansas City Expressway
16
Continue on US 36; MO 33
13 mi·15 min·US 36; MO 33
17
Continue on US 36; MO 31
13 mi·15 min·US 36; MO 31
18
Take the exit
0.1 mi·17 sec
Toward I 29 Business
19
Turn slight left onto I 29 Business
1.2 mi·2 min·South 10th Street
20
Turn right onto I 29 Business
379 ft·6 sec·Frederick Avenue
21
Turn slight right onto Walter Welsh Avenue
137 ft·2 sec·Walter Welsh Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
Walter Welsh Avenue
Trip Plan
Since this is a straightforward, one-day drive, you have the luxury of flexibility when choosing your departure time. Aim to complete the 3 hour and 44 minute journey during daylight hours to better navigate the turns on North 7th Street and Frank Ford Road. You only need to plan for one major stop to keep your energy up throughout the trip. Keep your $34 fuel budget in mind, and consider topping off your tank before departing Louisiana to ensure you have a buffer for the local roads ahead. Most importantly, stay alert for changes in road signage, as the reliance on local thoroughfares means you will encounter more intersections than a standard highway route.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 112.5 miles from Louisiana, MO, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 156.3 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 50 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.5 miles or 2h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Joseph, MO than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Louisiana, MO so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Louisiana, MO
This is one driving day of about 225 miles and 4h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Louisiana, MO.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway for about 156.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 34.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|North 7th Street
Turn right onto North 7th Street
Navigation decision point
4
10.7 mi into trip|~15m in|MO B
Turn left onto MO B
Navigation decision point
4
16.5 mi into trip|~26m in|MO B
At end of road, turn right onto MO B
Navigation decision point
5
16.8 mi into trip|~26m in|MO B; MO C; MO ZZ
Turn left onto MO B; MO C; MO ZZ
Navigation decision point
6
34.7 mi into trip|~50m in
Take the ramp toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 36 West, MO 110 West: Monroe City
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.53 one way
$75.06 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg79 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$40.79
$81.58
premium
$5.26
$46.59
$93.17
diesel
$6.18
$54.74
$109.47
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.5
0
$23.63
$10.80
Efficient EV
56.3
0
$19.69
$9.00
EV Truck/SUV
90
1
$31.50
$14.40
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Louisiana, MO
Morning
in Louisiana on Tuesday
Local time
7:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
SE 2 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Saint Joseph, MO
Morning
in Saint Joseph on Tuesday
Local time
7:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Partly Sunny
SSE 7 mph2% chanceLive forecast
78°F
Glasgow, MO
113 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 33m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy, local driving experience that favors backroads over high-speed transit. With a highway share of 0%, this route avoids the monotony of major interstates in favor of a more hands-on, engaging drive. You will stay focused on the road as you navigate the winding local paths that define this 221.1-mile journey. Because the route relies entirely on local roads, the pace remains steady rather than fast, offering a distinct departure from typical highway travel. Your time behind the wheel will feel intentional, requiring your full attention as you move from Louisiana to Saint Joseph.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 156.3 mi on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway and US 36. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near North 7th Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 33m drive. You will face about 14 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (MO B): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (MO B): Navigation decision point.
Louisiana (French: La Louisiane) is a state in the South of the United States that is known for its culture that dominates in the New Orleans part of the state. The state of Louisiana is bordered to the west by Texas, to the north by Arkansas, to the east by the state of Mississippi, and to the south by the Gulf of Mexico.
Top landmarks
•Bethel Chapel AME Church — church building in Missouri, United States of America
•Louisiana Chicago & Alton Railroad Depot — railway station in Louisiana, the United States of America
•Georgia Street Historic District — historic district in Missouri, United States
The longest stretch is about 156.3 miles on Chicago-Kansas City Expressway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 5 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (North 7th Street): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (MO B): Navigation decision point; at 16.5 miles (MO B): Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Joseph, MO, but most travelers stay overnight.
